What is your take on this - OBC...

[SunnyinDubai]

I have a question for all of you experienced cruisers out there. Not long after we booked our cruise on HAL, the TA advertised that they would be giving $75pp OBC, Pinnacle Dinner for 2 and champagne and chocolates in the cabin. As there was no reference to it being for new bookings only, I contacted the TA to ask if we would get these additional benefits and was told that yes, it applied to us and that we would be sent an email confirming this. I have to admit that I did not follow this up for a while but when we were about to pay the final amount, I asked the TA if we were still getting the benefits offered and she said yes. When we received our documents recently, I noticed that there was no mention of these benefits so I got in touch with the TA who told me that we would get $50pp OBC and a $25 beverage card. I queried this as I had the email offer of $75pp OBC and asked them why we were not getting the $75pp OBC but instead were getting $50pp OBC and a $25 beverage card (and as I see it it is one card only) - instead of technically getting $150 per cabin - we are getting $125. I was told today that this was what the $75pp was broken down to - ie $50pp OBC and a $25 beverage card. I find this odd as there was no mention of the beverage card at any stage and if it were to be offered, I would have thought that they would have made it clear. At the end of the day, it is $50 in total (we have 2 cabins) which we are "short" and in the grand scheme of things, it is not a lot but I think that on principle, this is not right. As I see it, $75pp OBC is that - and if it were to be broken down into components (with the total being less than the full amount offered), it should have been made clear. What are your thoughts on this? As I said, it is not the money and I appreciate the offer being extended to us but I still think that on principle, I should take this further with the TA. Should I?

[Huddler]

I would be happy to get any OBC since it wasnt originally negoiated into my purchase of the cruise. Coming back later and complaining about the conditions of the offer that wasnt even a part of your inducement to use their services seems a little ungrateful. Just my 2 cents and not meant to be snarky.

[DFD1]

Forgive me for this, but it sounds like your TA did not know what she was talking about, and may have been telling you what she thought you wanted to hear.

In any event, special offers are usually, not always, for new bookings only.

Don't let it spoil your cruise.

[SunnyinDubai]

Thanks for the responses.

Huddler - I was not complaining and I do not think I was being ungreteful - if something is offered and you do not get what is offered after being told you would get it, would you not think that you would question it? Yes, it was not an inducement for us to book the cruise and had the TA said that it only applies to new bookings, I would have accepted that. The thing is, that was not the case, and it was being given to people who had booked before the offer. I have read a lot of advice/tips on here from posters who say that if the price they are paying for their cruise goes down, they try to get the lower price. I do not think that they are being ungrateful, they are doing what they think is right - and if it works in their favour - good for them.

DFD1 - there was no reference to new bookings and so in a way my TA was right. Either way though, I was not going to let $50 spoil my cruise

Anyway, I did contact my TA again today and she has confirmed that we will get 2 beverage cards per cabin and I have put the matter to rest. I was not planning on spending that much on drinks on the cruise as we generally do not drink a lot of alcohol but hey, we may just have to - seeing that we are on holidays

[DesertDogs]

Originally Posted by SunnyinDubai

Thanks for the responses.

Anyway, I did contact my TA again today and she has confirmed that we will get 2 beverage cards per cabin and I have put the matter to rest. I was not planning on spending that much on drinks on the cruise as we generally do not drink a lot of alcohol but hey, we may just have to - seeing that we are on holidays

Or you can just buy some drinks for some of your new found friends onboard!

[suse]

When you look at the big picture, I hope $50 doesn't wreck your cruise. Enjoy your drinks.

[SunnyinDubai]

Desertdog - sounds like a good idea

Suse - yup, in the grand scheme of things, it is not a lot of money and that was not the issue though, it was more the principle of it and the lawyer in me just needed to have that sorted All is well though and it would not have spoilt our cruise

[Cruzman]

I also experienced a similar scenario, only without all the complications. Booked nearly a year ago with my TA and noticed a couple of months ago that a promotion including OBC was available for my booking. There was also an offer for 3rd and 4th passenger booking for $99 plus gov't fees and taxes. After calling and securing the OBC and reduced 3rd person price, I received my confirmation indicating the changes. Those changes are also showing on HAL's website for my booking #. I gotta suspect that your TA dropped the ball somewhere and is trying to minimize the effect of his mistake.

[pris993]

On our first HAL cruise in l995, the TA promised a $200 OBC. Was a new TA for us, we never got anything in writing from her. When we made our final payment I questioned what about the $200 OBC. Did not get a straight answer. I was not happy about it but decided it was my fault for not getting something in writing.

We left for Florida, were sitting at our hotel there when the phone rang. The TA had gotten us an upgrade to a suite cabin on a 10 day cruise much to our surprise. We had a delight time.

I later felt that was her way of correctly the problem of no OBC.

So sometimes TA do make promised that they can't keep and sometimes they are able to make a deal with the cruiseline.

[behindthescenes]

Just wondering if you got the dinner, the cholcolates and the champagne?

[SunnyinDubai]

Cruzman - I will be printing out the email communication so if the deal is not there when we get onboard, I will have something to back up my claims.

Priss993 - maybe they dropped the ball but it was all sorted. Unfor the cruise is overbooked so whilst a negotiated upgrade would have been nice, I do not think that it would have been possible

Behindthescenes - yes we got those confirmed too.

We are getting excited - have about 2 1/2 weeks to go